Site Improvement: Searching By Location!

At the request of a reader, I’ve implemented a new feature for the site! You will now be able to search for reviews and information by three new location based categories; which are: South of River, Inner City and North of River.

I think this will be pretty helpful, if anyone has any more suggestions please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

At the moment South of the River is the only category showing up in the sidebar because I haven’t had a chance to venture much further but rest assured I will get to it and then all the categories will magically appear!

I am currently in the States, returning early November so come that time WWA will be a hive of activity and wellness pursuits! Yay, I can’t wait!

Be well,

xo

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Sustainable + Self-Care Holiday Gifts for Your Loved Ones (& You!)

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Where did the year go?! It’s only a matter of days until Christmas / the holidays and all the fun and festivities that go along with it. And, if you’re anything like us, you have left your present shopping until the last minute again (no judgement here).

Luckily, Wellness WA have sourced some fantastic gift ideas to help promote self-care & sustainability to those you love these holidays. And yes, you are included on that gifting list too!

♥ Zero Co – #imgoingzero

If you and your loved ones are trying to be more conscious of how you are treating Mother Earth, then gifting a present from Zero Co is a great step! Zero Co are a local Australian company that make single-use, plastic-free body care and home-cleaning products that are vegan, cruelty-free, grey water safe and made from plant-based formulas.

Not only are their products great, but even the packaging they come in is earth-friendly. All of their products come in ‘Forever Bottles’ and refill pouches that you can use and re-use forever (and ever)! Forever Bottles are made from ocean, beach and landfill (OBL) plastic that is sourced from clean ups, funded by Zero Co and refill pouches are made from recycled materials diverted from landfill.

When you gift Zero Co’s refillable products, you’re helping to fund ocean clean ups around the world and eliminate the production of more single-use plastic – how great is that?

♥ The Body Care Christmas Gift Box

Sound good? Head here to grab one of their Christmas Boxes like the Body Care Christmas Gift Box or their Home & Body Christmas Gift Box for your special someone. They’ll ship it to you, or straight to your loved one’s door with a letter from sustainable Santa to explain how it all works. They even have gift cards for those harder-to-buy-for people in our lives (we all have one). It’s an easy & festive way to have a big impact on our planet.

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♥ Soul Nurture Wellness

2022 was a stressful year for many of us, and the festive season can sometimes add on even more stress! Imagine if you could give the gift of relaxation … that’s where Soul Nurture Wellness comes in.

Specialising in holistic and nurturing massage, meditation, and ultra-relaxing treatments, it’s the perfect present for those in your life who need a bit (or a lot) of bliss and calm. You can select a gift card amount, or choose to gift whole treatments to that special someone. See their range of relaxing treatment offerings here. We recommend the 2 hour Wellness Journey as the perfect kick starter.

Check them out on Instagram too for last minute appointment availability!

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♥ Healthy Hampers

If you’re after a delicious gift idea for that special someone – then look no further. Healthy Hampers specialise in delicious and generous hampers, carefully curated for those with dietary requirements or diet preferences. They have just released their extensive range of hampers that meet many dietary requirements including vegan, gluten-free, keto options, and everything in between – perfect timing for the holiday season!

Some delicious options include the Vegan Snack Attack Hamper or the Gluten Free Bake & Snack Hamper. With so much to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect selection to spoil your fussy loved ones.

Visit Healthy Hampers Australia to start shopping.

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♥ Veggie Saver

Did you know that the average Australian household throws away over $2,000 of food waste every year? Even more so, Christmas is notoriously the most wasteful time of the year, with 90% of Aussies throwing away more than 25% of their food during the festive period. If those numbers make you feel a bit sick (and not just from too much Christmas ham), we have a solution.

Veggie Saver is an award-winning, Australian-owned food storage system which is designed specifically to keep fruit and veggies fresh and crisp for two weeks or more – so your Christmas leftovers can still be enjoyed well into 2023!

Additionally, 5% of every sale of Veggie Saver is donated to Destiny Rescue, a not-for-profit leader in the rescue and rehabilitation of children from sex and slave trafficking. Win-win!

For more information on the Veggie Saver and to find a stockist near you, check out their website here!

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♥ Bare and Wilde Memberships & Retreats

Established in 2018, Bare + Wilde has built a fanbase of Australian wellness enthusiasts who have a thirst for discovering new healthy products through their wellness subscription boxes and hosting wellness retreats throughout Australia. Late in 2022, they also launched their own Self Care range of products.

Their Rituals Boxes and Memberships and self care bundles are a thoughtful gift for a loved one who needs more “me-time” in their life. Or for someone extra special in your life or if you need to treat yourself, why not check out one of their upcoming retreats?

There are a few already planned for 2023 so you can start planning your best year yet.

♥ Open House Yoga <3

♥ Yuletide Yoga

Yoga is one of our favourite pastimes and with good reason; researchers have found that regular yoga practice may produce health benefits including increased cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength, and normalisation of blood pressure.

Whether you are a seasoned yogi, or a first-timer, make 2023 the year of yoga by treating yourself or a loved one with a yoga class or two at your favourite yoga studio.

Some of our go-to’s are Open House Yoga, YOGALAB, Common Earth Studio, and Yoga Folk.

We hope that you were able to find some holiday gifting inspiration from our curated list, or maybe you have a few ideas for your own wish-list!

Either way, we hope that everyone has a very merry festive season, and wish you all the best for 2023! Bring it on!

Leah is a freelance content creator from Perth who loves her dog, trying weird fitness trends, beach days and avocado toast. Follow her Instagram @leahonthedoor

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Daily Wellness Routine: Tarj Mavi, Owner of Natural, Organic & Vegan Skincare Brand, LA MAV.

♥ Tarj Mavi, Owner of LA MAV

First up, briefly tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!

As the Founder and CEO of LA MAV, I am passionate about helping women to think holistically about health and beauty—developing Australia’s first Certified Organic skincare range to infuse bio-actives. While my role means that I work across all facets of our brand, I’m particularly passionate about product development as I am a scientist and researcher so I’m always looking for new natural ingredients and bio-actives that supercharge our formulas and deliver real, tangible results.

What time do you wake up most days and how many hours of sleep do you aim for?

I try to wake around 6am each morning—making the most of those lovely quiet moments before the busy day begins. And while I strive for 10 hours of beauty sleep each night, realistically it’s more like 7–8 hours as working with international partners means that I’m often up late at night for meetings.

What’s your morning routine to set you up for a great day?

Every morning I dedicate at least 10 minutes to gentle movement—practicing a little yoga or simply stretching. Not only does this simple practice help me to wake up slowly, but it also clears my mind so that I can embark on my day with a fresh outlook and new inspiration.

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Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?

Although my days are busy, I’m dedicated to my beauty routine and always make time for this simple ritual—I have to practice what I preach, after all! In my experience, the secret to great skin is to utilise bio-actives that work on a cellular level to keep skin feeling fresh and youthful—at any age.

The first thing I do is double cleanse with our Marula Oil Cleanser and Sweet Orange Balancing Cleanser. I then alternate between using our Collagen Support and Bakuchiol 4% Retinol Alternative boosters, both potent formulas penetrate deep into the skin’s dermis—followed by our Omega 3, 6, 7 & 9 Antioxidant Oil which instantly moisturises and plumps the skin and Intense Repair Eye Balm to firm the delicate eye area.

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One of my favourite beauty rituals, though, is to use an Ayurvedic Kansa Wand 2–3 times per week which instantly relaxes facial muscles and plumps and tones my skin. While facial massage is not a new trend, it’s certainly underrated as not only does it help to infuse the skin with nourishment by helping any actives in your skincare products to absorb more deeply into the skin, but it’s also incredibly relaxing and a simple way to integrate a little self-care into your day.

Do you take any supplements, vitamins or special wellness elixirs? If so, we’d love to know!

I try not to take too many over-the-counter supplements or vitamins — I’m a big believer in the philosophy that food is medicine so I naturally try to focus on a healthy balanced diet, packed with antioxidant-rich wholefoods, Ayurvedic ingredients and adaptogens. In saying that however, there are so many wonderful inner beauty wellness products and elixirs available these days, so as we look to expand our offering at LA MAV, I’m inspired to share the power of wholefoods with our customers. Watch this space…

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Do you have an evening wind-down ritual?

While every day is different—and my wind-down ritual certainly depends on my work schedule—I do my best to take some time in the evening to sit down and relax with a cup of tea. I recently added a Wellbeing category to LA MAV which includes a range of Inner Beauty Teas so depending on my mood, I’ll reach for one of those. Each blend is packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients which have been hand-selected to target specific skin concerns and nourish the body from the inside out. My current favourite is our Age Defence blend which helps to combat fine lines and support collagen synthesis from within.

Before bed, I also do my best to book-end my day by practising a little yoga or indulging in at least 10 minutes of stretching. I start the day in the same way and I find that when I do this regularly, I not only sleep better, but I wake up feeling far more refreshed and energised.

What are your top 3 wellness non-negotiables?

It’s hard to pick just three but I’d have to say that Bikram Yoga three times a week undoubtedly helps to keep me sane and supple! I cleanse my skin for at least 60 seconds twice a day, every day and whenever possible, I spend time in nature which is like my soul food. While this helps to keep me calm and balanced, nature is also where I find my deepest inspiration so it’s a good source of creative energy for me, too.

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Your absolute favourite healthy cafe in Sydney is?

We are spoilt for choice in Sydney when it comes to healthy cafes, but for me, a weekend trip to Orchard St in Manly is the ultimate treat! It’s become a bit of an institution here in Sydney and I love their holistic approach to wellness. It’s not unusual for me to go home with a selection of their teas and tinctures.

Best place to get a green juice or smoothie in your city?

On the way to work you can often find me at Hills Organics. I’m a huge fan of their Green Machine smoothie as well as their Chai Lattes. Delish!

What’s your fitness routine & favourite way to get sweaty and where’s your go-to?

Yoga has always been a huge part of my life—but for many years, I’ve been dedicated to my Bikram yoga practice. While the series of postures undoubtedly keeps me feeling fit (and sweaty!), it’s a wonderful way to detoxify the body—as well as the skin and switch off the mind for two hours. The workout is so intense that being able to focus only on my body and my breathing for two hours is bliss.

Are you into any woo-woo wellness trends?

While I wouldn’t call it woo-woo, I’m definitely inspired by Ayurveda and due to my Indian heritage, it’s been somewhat of a thread throughout my life. I love how across every touchpoint, Ayurveda embraces a holistic view of health—illustrating how our body, mind and spirit exist in a delicate balance. At LA MAV, I try to infuse this same philosophy by creating products that are infused with Ayurvedic ingredients and adaptogens that work holistically and synergistically to improve beauty, health and overall wellbeing.

What’s your dream wellness vacay?

As a dedicated yogi I would love to spend time at a yoga retreat in India. Not only would it be wonderful to be able to take a holiday in India—but to practice yoga where it all began would be my idea of bliss.

And lastly… do you have any top secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

LA MAV skincare products, of course!

Thank you so much to the beautiful Tarj for taking part in our daily wellbeing interview – to find out more about LA MAV’s range of luxurious skincare & self-care, visit their website, Instagram, or Facebook.

Be well,

xoxo

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Daily Wellness Routine: Katie Eales, Founder of Sabbia Co.

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First up, briefly tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!

I grew up in Port Douglas, in a half Italian / half Australian household. Growing up diving the Great Barrier Reef, camping under the stars and eating 90% homegrown was where I found my deep love and appreciation for the planet. I moved to the Gold Coast to study marketing straight after year 12, I then went on to travel throughout many Asian countries, Europe and the States. In 2017 I met my husband Dave, in 2018 we found ourselves on a remote beach in Sri Lanka and were devastated over the amount of single-use personal items we were surrounded by.

When we arrived home we decided to minimise all single-use items in our home. As we started to research and test reusable products we fell in love with many amazing sustainable swaps. Our mission was no longer to overhaul our home but everyone else’s. And this is when Sabbia Co was born (September 2019). An ethical brand with minimal impact on the environment, that creates unique facial kits out of sustainable, biodegradable, reusable and chemical free tools. Along with sustainably sourced and packaged skincare that is formulated by myself.

Sabbia translates to sand in Italian. I’m half Italian and the purpose of what we do at Sabbia Co is to create sustainable products that can go back into the Earth like a grain of sand.

What time do you wake up most days and how many hours of sleep do you aim for?

We wake up at 4/4.30am each weekday and aim to get to sleep by 8.30pm – 7-8 hours beauty sleep is essential!

What’s your morning routine to set you up for a great day?

Dave wakes up at 4am, does his morning meditation and mini workout then comes in with coffee and I get up around 4.30am. I start every morning with coffee in bed and meditation before anything else. I then go for a beach walk, Pilates or yoga around 5/5.30, shower, breakfast and journaling if I have time before getting into the office at 7.30am.

Describe a typical day of eating for you.

I start the morning with a glass of water then coffee with oat milk, I drink 3-4L of water throughout the day and limit myself to 1 coffee. Breakfast is either avo and egg on sourdough or coconut yogurt with muesli and banana.

Lunch varies between rice paper rolls, sushi and wraps. Dinner is also always different (stirfry, salad, rice bowls or pasta), I am currently pregnant so trying to incorporate organic read meat, chicken or salmon a little more than usual. We both have a sweet tooth, I try to make healthy bliss balls and cookies but we can’t go past a block of chocolate every now and then.

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Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?

Skincare is my biggest passion, hence Sabbia Co…

AM

Cleanse with konjac sponge and botanical glow cleanser, revive face mist, collagen c serum, multi-vitamin moisturiser, Ultra Violette SPF and Mineral BB Cream – everything is from our sustainable skincare brand Sabbia Co except for the sunscreen from Ultra Violette.

♥ Sabbia Co botanical glow cleanser

PM

Remove makeup with reusable makeup cloth, cleanse with konjac sponge and botanical glow cleanser, revive face mist, collagen c serum and multi-vitamin moisturiser. I alternate between facial treatments – matcha clay mask, overnight hydrating mask with multi-vitamin moisturiser or Gua Sha/Facial Cupping with our antioxidant repair oil.

Do you have an evening wind-down ritual?

We eat dinner around 6pm so that we can clean up, have a stretch and begin to wind down. We have a no phones after 7.30/8pm rule which we both love!

What are your top 3 wellness non-negotiables?

Early wake up, meditation / movement and nourishment (food, mind, skin, soul)!

Favourite farmers market or healthy place to shop for healthy goodies.
Palm Beach farmers markets every Saturday. The olive sourdough is my staple! And I love being able to eat seasonal vegetables and fruits from local farmers.

What’s your fitness routine & favourite way to get sweaty and where’s your go-to?

Beach walk, pilates and yoga – I’ve done my yoga and pilates teacher training so I tend to create my own flows at home.

I studied at Studio Pilates in Brisbane, Essence of Living and Fire Shaper on the Gold Coast. I don’t teach as it was more of a self exploration study but I love to practice in the comfort of my home or reformer Pilates at Ritual in Palm Beach.

If you could only wear one brand of activewear for the rest of your life it would be…

Lululemon.

What’s the one beauty or wellness treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?

Gua Sha and Facial Cupping – seriously life changing! We have a free ebook so that our customers can learn and perform in the comfort of their own homes.

What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t got around to yet?

Facial massage, I have done it to myself but I would love to find somewhere where I can have a professional perform it on me.

Are you into any woo-woo wellness trends?

Very much so, I read my cards and manifest with the new moon each month. The cards I use & love are Wisdom Of Gaia by: Toni Carmine Salerno.

Thanks to Katie for taking the time to share her lovely routine with us – head to the Sabbia Co website to find out more about their sustainable beauty products!

Be well,

xoxo

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Four Skincare Products to Obsess Over this Summer

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While glowing skin is in all year round, our WA summer brings its own set of challenges. With the scorching heat, daily drenchings with salty sea water, sweat, and maybe even a bit too much debauchery (naturally), your delicate skin can easily be thrown out of sorts during our favourite season.

To help inspire your skincare routine this summer, I’ve rounded up a list of 4 products (internal & external) that are going to be on heavy rotation for me over the coming months – and chat about why I’m trusting these particular skin saviours to keep me glowing and fresh through the inevitable heat waves to come!

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♥ Go-To ‘Fancy Face’ Nourishing Oil Cleanser – $45

Since I bought this baby approximately 6 months ago, it has been partying with my skin on a twice-daily basis. I’m a two showers a day kinda gal, and this product is the first one I reach for when I jump in. With it’s dreamy, subtly floral scent, easy-breezy squirty-pumpy application, and deliciously nourishing formula – hi approximately 3 trillion good-for-ya-skin oils – this one is a sure fire winner for my skin as it melts away any dirt / makeup / whoknowswhat and leaves it looking and feeling freshly plump and glowing every time.

Did I forget to mention that the bottle is cute and I feel cool using it. Well both of these things are true. Perfect to use after a long day at the beach, too.

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♥ The Beauty Chef Collagen Inner Beauty Boost – from $25

I’m a MASSIVE fan of internal skincare + wellness. Set me loose in the supplement section of any store and there’s no way I’m leaving without at least one new product that claims to nourish me from within and provide some new life-altering benefit that I won’t be able to live without moving forward.

Call me a sucker if you will. Some girls like shoes, I like supplements.

The Beauty Chef vegan collagen drink has been a long time favourite of mine in this category, with just a tablespoon needed daily, and the delicious berry taste that will dance with your taste buds like Someone Who is a Really Cool Dancer, you wont find it hard to add this one into your daily routine.

It’s packed full of collagen supporting goodness such as Vitamin C, fermented berries that are meant to be amazing for your gut (and in turn your skin), sea minerals, goji powder, gotu kola, grapeseed, pomegranate, a skin-specific probiotic strain and WAY too many more to mention, you’ll definitely feel like you’re doing your skin a massive favour.

I find I need to take it for at least 3-4 weeks consistently to start noticing a difference in my ‘glow’, which is consistent with most research that I’ve read on supplements and lifestyle changes in general. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this product for daily use, and if you stick to it – you’ll reap the radiant rewards.

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♥ ESK Hydroxy Overnight Mask – $50

If you’re looking for a hardworking overnight hero, then you can’t go past this salicylic acid based mask.

Perfect for a wide range of skin types, from oily to acne prone to sun damaged to sensitive, this overnight wonder-mask is a fantastic once-a-week addition to your nightly skincare routine to ensure your skin is soft & glowing by morning.

It works by slowly dissolving dead skin cells and excess keratin while you sleep – you’ll be having sweet skin dreams in no time!

I have a bit of a plan for my night time skincare – 2 x a week I use a nourishing oil, 2 x a week I use something a little more active (like this mask!), 3 x a week I give my skin a breather. I always use this mask the night after I’ve used one of the oils, as I feel it works best that way, and can then dissolve any mini dead skin cell clogs that may have occurred over the previous 24 hours.

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♥ Melrose Organic 3-6-7-9 Omega Oil – from $16.95

I like to think of this product as one of my little secrets. In the name of complete honesty, I’ve actually fallen off the omega oils wagon recently, but I’m jumping back on today and am going to make sure I take my daily tablespoon because the health, hormone & skin benefits are far too good to not.

So why am I including this in my summer skincare roundup? Well, as mentioned above, it’s all well and good (and definitely important) to apply external skincare, but in reality, the major skin improvement benefits will always come from what we put in our body.

Particularly for vegans & vegetarians, if you aren’t taking an omega supplement – your skin and health will suffer. I really like the Melrose blend as it contains the exact ratio of omega 3, 6, 7 & 9 oils that optimally support human health.

During summer, it’s especially important, as the skin is more prone to dryness and sunburn – ensuring an adequate daily supply of omega oils will support your glow, minimise dryness and just generally keep your skin in good shape.

As an added bonus, I personally find that my hormones balance out realllllly well when I’m taking this daily, my libido fires up like crazy (omega 3 is the building block of sex hormones in men & women), my brain feels like it’s working better – kinda like a well oiled car, and I recover from exercising a lot quicker, so honestly – what’s not to love?

Head on over to the @wellnesswa Instagram to let me know what you think – what are your favourite products during summer?

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